Neighbors shocked by police shooting in Chalmette neighborhood

Minyard was treated at a local hospital for his gunshot wound and then taken to jail. (FOX 8 Photo)

CHALMETTE, LA (WVUE) -

The Nevels family had just returned from a vacation Friday, but even before their vehicle was back in their driveway they knew of what had transpired on their block.

"We were sound asleep and my phone went off and it was neighbors just letting us know what was happening,” said Shannon Nevels as she stood outside her home with her husband Chris and their two children.

Just after 1:40 a.m. there was gunfire and it came from a St. Bernard Parish deputy. Sheriff Jimmy Pohlmann said 27 year old Steve Minyard was shot in the shoulder after refusing to drop a high powered weapon outside of the home where he was staying.

"The deputies over and over again asked him to drop the weapon, he refused to drop the weapon, he pointed a weapon in the direction of the deputies, one deputy fired at the suspect and hit him one time,” said Sheriff Pohlmann.

He said his deputies responded to a call about a disturbance in the 3700 Block of Gallo Drive.

"It's our understanding he was having some issues, maybe with child custody in another state, and I think he was emotionally charged at the time, and may have been drinking, or otherwise, and he was having some issues with the family within the house,” the sheriff stated.

His office said two women, including the suspect's mother came out of the home and one said that Minyard was inside with a gun.

"And when we got there it was just a matter of a minute when he exited the house, armed with an assault rifle and the deputies took the appropriate action,” said Pohlmann.

He said Pohlmann was armed with an AR-15.

"The guy was armed with an assault rifle that had a hundred round clip, he could have done a lot of damage, had things been different,” the sheriff said.

Shannon Nevels said it is hard to believe what unfolded on her street.

"It's a disturbing trend that we're seeing right here in the metropolitan area, Slidell just the other day, Jeferson Parish just the other day, now here in St. Bernard Parish that we fighting, that we're facing armed suspects,” said the sheriff.

And besides being surprised, people in this quiet neighborhood say they are also grateful, grateful that the suspect wasn't able to fire his weapon,” Pohlmann said.

"We have kids all over the street, and we'd hate for something to happen to them, as well,” said Nevels.

Minyard was treated at a local hospital for his gunshot wound and then taken to jail.

Minyard was booked with aggravated assault with a firearm on an officer and with possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, according to the sheriff's office.

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